Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued comprehensive guidelines for the acceptance of recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) as Food Contact Material (FCM-rPET). These guidelines aim to ensure that recycled PET used in food packaging meets stringent safety and quality standards.

Key Highlights:

• Scope: The guidelines apply exclusively to FSSAI-approved recycling technologies used to convert post-consumer food-grade PET into FCM-rPET resins for packaging. Non-food-grade applications are not covered.
• Approved Recycling Processes: Four decontamination-based recycling processes have been approved:
  • Super-Clean Recycling Process
  • Melt-in Recycling Process
  • Paste-in Recycling Process
  • Chemical Recycling Process
• Testing Requirements: Mandatory testing includes Challenge Tests, Extraction Tests, and Migration Tests to ensure the safety and quality of recycled PET. All tests must be conducted in NABL/ILAC accredited labs in compliance with relevant Indian Standards.
• Process Requirements: The recycling process must ensure decontamination levels below specified limits and maintain a monitoring program to ensure the continuity of Recycled Food Contact Material PET quality over time.
• Acceptance Criteria for FCM-rPET Resin: The resin must conform to the specifications outlined in the guidelines, ensuring the required purity and safety standards are met.
• Marking & Labelling: Food contact materials made of FCM-rPET resin must carry a specific symbol indicating the percentage of recycled resin used, along with a declaration stating that the packaging material is made with recycled PET. Compliance with other national requirements is mandatory.
• Documentation: Manufacturers and related stakeholders are required to maintain and provide relevant documentation, including a Declaration of Compliance, a Regulatory Opinion from a recognized authority, and supply chain records on product traceability and quality assurance data.
• Authorization: Manufacturers must apply for authorization of their recycling process by submitting necessary information as per Form I. The Food Authority will assess and either authorize or reject the application, documenting the decision in Form II